The name Rusall was carried to England in the enormous movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Rusall family lived in Shropshire, at Rossall Manor, from whence their name is derived. Another derivation places the origin of the name at Rossall Point, a headland in Lancashire, just north of Shropshire. It is difficult to say which of these preceded the other, due to inadequate records of the time. However, due to the relatively close proximity of the two counties, it is quite likely that the two origins are connected in a way lost to the historical record.

Early Origins of the Rusall family

The surname Rusall was first found in Shropshire where they held a family seat from ancient times, and were Lords of the manor of Rossall, originally named Rosela. At the time of the taking of the Domesday Book in 1086, initiated by Duke William of Normandy after his conquest of England in 1066, the holdings were known as the Isle of Rossall, held by the Church of St. Chad. A junior branch of this name gave its name to Rossall in Lancashire which was also included in the Domesday Book, [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8) but on which the records are now lost.

Early History of the Rusall family

Early History of the Rusall family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rusall research.Another 181 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1677 and 1306 are included under the topic Early Rusall History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rusall Spelling Variations

Rusall Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Rossal, Rossall, Rossale, Rosal, Rosall, Rosale and many more.

Early Notables of the Rusall family (pre 1700)

Early Notables of the Rusall family (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early Rusall Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Rusall family to the New World and Oceana

Migration of the Rusall family to the New World and Oceana

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Rusall or a variant listed above: Thomas Rassall, who settled in Maryland in 1739; and Richard Rossall, who applied for naturalization in New York in 1856.